Ambition has been a defining feature of the UAE since 1971, and every initiative launched since has embodied this virtue in full. The UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategy, a national drive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, is the latest case in point of our penchant to achieve the seemingly impossible.
Addressing climate change is of collective consequence – aside from irreversibly harming the planet, its impact on global wealth is predicted to be beyond significant.
We can expect as much as $23 trillion in reduced annual global economic output worldwide as diseases spread, rising sea levels consume urban centres and crop yields fall, according to Swiss Re, one of the world’s largest providers of insurance.
The UAE Net Zero Strategic Initiative lays the road map to a more hopeful future and, simultaneously, sustainable developments to protect the national economy. It further enhances the country’s standing as an attractive destination for investment and, ultimately, an ideal, future-ready place to live.
At Dubai Science Park, a science-focused business district, home to more than 400 companies covering sciences, energy and environmental sectors, we are already seeing a number of our business partners adopting environmentally friendly practices and integrating sustainability into their core strategy.
Urban development
Handasiyah is a leading engineering distributor that provides clean energy solutions to reduce electricity and water consumption.
It provides products like cooling towers and water filtration systems to major projects such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, Green Planet in City Walk and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The company is expanding its product portfolio in power, renewable and sustainable energy and building solutions, making it easier for a country renowned for outstanding real estate developments to ensure greener practices.
International heavyweight EP&T Global harnesses the power of advanced data technology to help businesses reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in built environments. For more than 25 years, the international brand has established itself as a leader in the field, pioneering and enhancing technology that identifies opportunities to reduce energy consumption, collects invaluable data to enhance environmental performance.
According to EP&T, buildings use more than one-third of the world’s energy and water and emit over a quarter of carbon dioxide. Their innovation-driven solutions enable businesses across the region to make smarter decisions in how their buildings operate, an asset to Dubai’s ever-expanding urban plan.
Waste management
Ehfaaz is a high-tech start-up that transforms food and fast-moving consumer goods waste into organic fertilisers and cleaning products. They are a fast-growing company working with major corporations the likes of PepsiCo in diverting waste from landfills.
Of particular value to our own science community, Ehfaaz provides pharmaceutical suppliers, manufacturers and logistics centres with services to destroy expired or unsellable products safely and securely. Items like plastic bottles and chip bags, which cannot be turned into compost nor efficiently destroyed, are upcycled to create consumer products like shoes and bags.
Upcycled products
Established in 2014, Avani is spearheading the move from petroleum-based plastic to bio-based solutions for food packaging and hospitality products.
With more than 20,000 restaurants in Dubai alone, this initiative can tremendously balance the residual impact of plastic on the local environment. At Avani, technology transforms plant-sourced renewable resources into biodegradable and compostable items, such as takeaway cups and boxes, wooden cutlery, and shopping and laundry bags used daily.
Similarly, DSP-based start-up DGrade recycles plastic water bottles into a high-quality yarn called Greenspun. The upcycled yarn can produce more than 200 types of fabric using 50 per cent less energy, 20 per cent less water, emitting 55 per cent less carbon, opening new doors for the fast fashion industry, notorious for its ecologically damaging practices and resource consumption.
The road ahead
This is but the tip of the iceberg of remarkable businesses spearheading the UAE’s efforts to achieve net-zero emissions and counter the looming impact of climate change across a range of industries.
Along with their outstanding efforts and tech-driven solutions, it is up to us collectively to ensure that our fervour to adopt sustainable practices, businesses and lifestyles remains vigorous.
Business districts and free zones can promote the growth of environmentally conscious companies by offering business-friendly policies and support to boost success. They effectively attract talent, innovative businesses and inward investment, paving the way for an even more competitive economy and in turn, boosting economic growth at large.
Our vision is to continue helping businesses grow and achieve real, actionable change by investing in best infrastructure, delivering enabling policies and organising opportunities for our business partners to converge.
Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi is the Managing Director of Dubai Science Park (DSP)
Our House, Louise Candlish,
Simon & Schuster
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
At a glance
- 20,000 new jobs for Emiratis over three years
- Dh300 million set aside to train 18,000 jobseekers in new skills
- Managerial jobs in government restricted to Emiratis
- Emiratis to get priority for 160 types of job in private sector
- Portion of VAT revenues will fund more graduate programmes
- 8,000 Emirati graduates to do 6-12 month replacements in public or private sector on a Dh10,000 monthly wage - 40 per cent of which will be paid by government
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The five pillars of Islam
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs: 2018 Jaguar F-Type Convertible
Price, base / as tested: Dh283,080 / Dh318,465
Engine: 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 295hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.2L / 100km
MATCH DETAILS
Juventus 2 (Bonucci 36, Ronaldo 90 6)
Genoa 1 (Kouame 40)
Honeymoonish
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Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell
Four stars
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
RESULTS
5pm: Sweihan – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Shamakh, Fernando Jara (jockey), Jean-Claude Picout (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Shamkha – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Daad, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
6pm: Shakbout City – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Ghayyar, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Gold Silver, Sandro Paiva, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Masdar City – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Khalifa City – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Ranchero, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
THE SPECS
Aston Martin Rapide AMR
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Transmission: Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic
Power: 595bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh999,563
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Australia 2nd; Bahrain 3rd; China 4th; Azerbaijan 1st; Spain 1st; Monaco 3rd; Canada 5th; France 1st; Austria DNF; Britain 2nd; Germany 1st; Hungary 1st; Belgium 2nd; Italy 1st; Singapore 1st; Russia 1st; Japan 1st; United States 3rd; Mexico 4th
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